56 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 
and Thaw comes again bringing his master, Spring. Then there is 
a fight to the finish, and Spring is supreme, while Thaw pursues 
ever to torment Ha’tho‘, on his frontiers. 
The spirits of sustenance are known as Dio™he’ko. They are 
represented as the inseparable spirits of the corn, the bean and the 
squash. They are sometimes referred to as “the three sisters.” 
The ceremonial dance in their honor is called Gonda‘ gofiwi’ sas. 
There are many legends of these spirits of sustenance and the wise 
men and women of ancient times tell of hearing them talk together 
in the fields where they grow together. 
Tide spirit is known as S‘hagoweno't‘ha, and it is he who controls 
the rising and falling of the great waters, twice in each day. It is 
said that he controls the lifting of the sky’s rim in the land of 
Gaenhyakdondye (the horizon), which allows the sun to emerge in 
the morning and depart at night. Sometimes he tempts canoemen 
far out to sea and then crushes them under the edge of the sky’s rim. 
He sometimes lures disobedient boys to lonely islands where witches 
and wizards live on human flesh. Altogether, aside from certain 
functions, he is an evil monster. 
Will-o’-the-wisp, or Gahai” is known as the witch’s torch. It is 
not a spirit of the first order, but merely a flying light which directs 
sorcerers and witches to their victims. Sometimes it guides them to 
the spots where they may find their charms. Sorcerers have been 
detected by the frequent appearance of their Gahai’, which leaves 
their smoke holes and guides them as they ride in mid-air on their 
evil journeys. 
Magic Beasts and Birds 
Cloudland Eagle O's‘ha’da’gea’ is chief among all the creatures 
that inhabit the air. He seems ever to watch over mankind, espe- 
cially the Iroquois, and to come to earth when great calamities 
threaten. Living above the clouds, he collects the dews in his 
feathers. Some say that he has a pool of dew on his back between 
his shoulders. The Iroquois regard him with great reverence, for 
he is connected with many a worthy exploit. 
Horned Snake, Gas‘hais’dowane®, has several names among which 
are Doona”gaes and Djo"di”’gwado". He is a monster serpent of 
the underwaters. His head is adorned with antlers of great spread, 
though he is also said to have monster horns shaped like a 
buffalo’s. He is capable of transforming himself to the appearance 
of a man, and as such delights in luring maidens to his abode. Ina 
few instances he appears as the gallant rescuer of women marooned 
